Modern bead cord like Beadalon or
Soft Flex has several measurements that can be
confusing. The guidelines presented here are
based on our experience. They work for us and
should work for you. With a little knowledge you are sure to find the
products that work best for you and your projects too.

In the good old days, a wire called tiger tail was used to
string beads. This was usually a 3 strand, steel fish leader
material. It was prone to kinking, but it was very popular because it was
easy to use. It eliminated learning to knot the thread that was used prior
to tiger tail, and it was very strong for it's size. If tiger tail didn't
exist, I probably would have given up making jewelry a long time ago. The modern beading
wires we'll talk about here are a great improvement over tiger tail. They'll
make your work much easier, stronger, and more fun! They let you concentrate
on being more creative!

Both Beadalon and Soft Flex can be used
for the creation of jewelry. They offer a wide variety of diameters, flexibilities, and lengths for use
by designers and hobbyists. All of these products offer good choices and
better values than other materials that are available. Modern bead
wire is composed of a multi strand, stainless steel wire, with a clear
nylon coating. The diagrams above give you a microscopic view of the
different flexibility wires that are available. One of these wires is sure
to be the best material to use in your jewelry project. You can use crimp
beads or knot the bead wire to finish your project. The crimps are much
more popular and we think they are easier to do.

MAKING
SENSE OF THE MEASUREMENTS

The three measurements you will encounter are
the
diameter, the number of strands, and the length. By
learning about each of these, you'll be prepared to select the best
product for your purpose. There's a lot of misinformation out there so
knowing these measurements will equip you to make your own decisions.

1. DIAMETER: This
is the
measurement of the thickness of the wire.

Thicker bead cord stands up to wear and tear better
but you sacrifice some flexibility as you get larger diameters. You may also
be limited by the hole size in your beads. Diameter is
measured in thousands of an inch so the sizes you will see from smallest to
largest are numbers like these:
.010, .012, .013, .014, .015, .018, .019, .020, .024.

BEAD
WIRE - DIAMETER CHART

Diameter

Break
Strength

Recommended
Use

.010
.012
.013

7-13 lb

Tiny, small, light weight beads. Pearls, seed
beads, or small gemstones where the drill holes are tiny and other
wire sizes won't fit through the hole.

.014
.015

15-20 lb

Light to medium beads. Czech glass,
crystals, small to medium stone beads and seed beads. This is a
great size for small to medium necklaces, bracelets and anklets.
This is a great size to begin with. The .015 diameter is the best selling size.

.018
.019

20-26 lb

Medium to heavy beads. Large glass
beads, Coral, Turquoise and other large stone beads. Use this size
wire on long necklaces
and on anklets, bracelets, or watches for extra strength and
durability.

.024

20-40 lb

Large, bulky, or heavy beads. Big
metal beads, large
African beads or big stone beads. This is a great size for heavy
bracelets, extra long necklaces, pet jewelry, belts, and purse
handles.

Some people recommend using the largest size bead
cord that you can get through the hole in your beads, but this is a matter
of personal choice more than anything. We like to use the smallest
cord we feel is strong enough to hold up for your projects expected use.
This keeps your project more fluid and flexible so it will drape
better.

Break Strength is how much weight the
wire can lift without breaking. It is determined by a combination of the
wire diameter and the number of strands in the wire. It is shown on some
labels, but not all. If you know how to choose the diameter and number of
strands, the break strength will be built in and you won't need to worry
about it.

2. NUMBER OF
STRANDS:The number of filaments that make up the wire

Think of this
like the "thread count" for your bead cord. More strands means
greater flexibility. It does not necessarily mean it will be a larger
diameter. Typically you will find numbers like 7, 19, 21, & 49 strand bead
cord. Higher numbers are more flexible.

Each of the different strand counts are available in
a wide variety of diameters. See the diameter chart above for more
information on diameter.

BEAD
WIRE - STRAND COUNT COMPARISON

#
OF STRANDS

FLEXIBILITY

STRENGTH

ECONOMY

7 Strand

Good

Good

$

19 or 21 Strand

Better

Better

$$

49 Strand

BEST

BEST

$$$

Expect to pay more for a cord with more strands as it is
more expensive to produce. The 7 strand wire is flexible enough for many
projects. It's the most economical bead wire available. The 19 & 21 strand
wires are more
flexible but they cost a little more than the 7 strand wire. 19 strand
wire offers the
best blend of quality and economy. The 49
strand wire is the most flexible wire available. You will get the best drape
or flow from this wire. It resists kinking better than all other wires. See the diagram at the top of this article for a
cross section view of the the strands or threads in each type.

Many times people think that 49 strand
wire is larger than 7 or 19 strand wire. This is not always the case. A 49
strand wire in .013 diameter is smaller than either a .015 diameter 19
strand wire or a .018 diameter 7 strand wire.

3. LENGTH:This is the quantity of feet you get on the spool.

Bead cord is more
economical if you buy it in a bulk spool. Typical lengths are 30', 100',
300' and 1000'. Buy the basic cord you use all the time in bulk spools
and buy short spools of the other cord to give yourself a selection of other
sizes and colors. Bigger spools are cheaper per foot.

If you are unsure of which cord to
choose, a good first choice is to get the .015 or .018 spool in either 49 strand or 19
strand wire. These offer a good value and are the best sellers year round.
Next purchase a smaller size like .012 size and finally get some of the
other cords listed for variety.

Be sure you leave enough space
between your beads. Pulling the cord too tight while crimping makes your
project look uneven and does not allow the beads to "flow"
nicely. A little trick is to make a loop out of your necklace or bracelet
before you pull it tight. This ensures that you have enough space between
the beads so things drape beautifully.

We're compiling some interesting and useful ideas to share with our
friends and fellow beaders. Send us an email
with useful ideas or your favorite tips and tricks. We'll be glad to publish your
ideas here on Beadstuff.com!